Please note that the small and large intestines have been drawn in mirror image but we've lost the original flash file.
- The food is masticated (chewed) in the mouth.
- The food bolus travels down the oesophagus through peristalsis.
- The stomach adds stomach acids & and enzymes and churns the food with muscular contractions.
- Bile made by the liver is secreted from the gall bladder which is hidden between the folds of the liver into the top of the small intestine.
- Pancreatic juices containing base and more enzymes also enter the small intestine.
- The food passes through the small intestine, where it
- Finally, the food reaches the large intestine (colon), where the remaining water is absorbed from the food.
- The nutrients which have been absorbed by the blood are carried back to the liver for further processing.
Saliva containing amylase is secreted to break down starch.
The bile breaks down fats contained in the food.
is broken down further & nutrients are absorbed into the blood vessels which surround the intestines.
The waste material passes out of the body.